Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-10-28

and when the sensibilitlr, had become some
what blunted a poorer quality WAS present
ed and the people there did not recognize
II, but supposed that it wa, just a good as
any The fact is was going To say all of
the good thiu-s that have been said. but |
cannot do it now. could even match my
brother Thompson and the Governor here
l did not get my wife from the public
schools Of Brattlehoro but coming here
and admiring the public schools some 20
years ago about dozen years ago | adopt
ed all the children of the High school and
the other schools, and speak Of them Us
my boys and girls, and am glad to see
good many Of them here tonight
have gone back this evening to one
week ago tonight, IS hen this room was filed
with an entirely different gathering of peo-
pie here for the same purpose that we are.
for reunion and for touch Of friendly
hands. They We're mere to talk over the
times when they had stood shoulder to
shoulder in life's work. as you have stood
They recnunted patriotic and heroic deeds
for which we devoutly thank them for the
exercise of their herosm and patriotism
have gwen rs not only a united nation. but
have placed uetOre the world a republic
which is a light 10 all the oppressed people
in the world but we know tonight that
they could not have accomplished those he
role deeds had il not been that they were
educated in the public schools Our fathers
in founding this republic knew well what
they were at with the foundations The
greut cornerstone of the republic was to
come in the schools Other republics that
had gone before lacked this education of
the masses, and their downfall and their ru-
in were because they had neglected that
So | say, let us not only in this generation,
but let our children and their children guard
well the public schools, for in doing that
they guard the nation.
But | am reminded that we are not here
simply to congratulate ourselves that our
public schools can produce such an audience
as fills this room tonight We found when
we met here one week ago that the highest
officer Of the state was not 50 wonderful
after all. Vermont had great crop of
them, and governors were plenty, and we
| found that even the material to make gov
| ernors out of was still more plenty. But
/ we come tonight to one citizen of this com
monweHlth who is unlike any other citizen.
] On its borders you can find no such man as
/ b. f. Bingham No teacher in all its Dor
ders has had the privilege for 2j years of
training the youth of the same community.
| In doing all this he has not only served YOU
six hours a day during your school year,
but l know that there has been many a
night when sleep has failed to come to his
eyes because he has been studying the best
method to inspire this lad with enthusiasm
how to guide that boy or girl into th1 path
which should lead 10 happiness for them
how toTeach out after them and subvert that
spirit which was going 10 be destruction
for them, and yet he haS brought all this
about in the quiet hour OF night. He ha,
marked out course and followed it, and
prosperity and happiness have been the re
suit. Some of you who are here to night
and look upon him fully realize that you
owe your success, your happiness and YOU
prosperity TO the advice and the COURSE
which he marked out for you.
Mr. Bingham, the speaker here approach
ed close to the old principal aud Mr. Bling
ham rose as he did so as You have looked
upon these bright faces here to night AN,
have seen the sparkling eyes which speaI
affection and gratitude for what you hav,
done, you have seen more than words O
mine can possibly express. But you hav,
seen these faces pale in your schoolroou
when you have said, TO the board TAX
the crayon aud demonstrate TO me thi
problem and that problem" You hay,
seen the flush of victory come over thei
faces when this was done to your satisfac
ton, Tonight they ask me to present I,
you problem of which the key to its solu
ton is here, but many viii be the days be